While it is coming to an end, Summer is still in full force in South-East Queensland. Dogs and cats too, unlike humans, do not have sebaceous (sweat) glands and so cannot sweat to cool themselves down. This makes them more prone to overheating and developing heatstroke, which can be fatal if untreated. Heatstroke is a condition in which the body overheats for a prolonged time and causes failure of the body’s temperature-regulating mechanism.

Heatstroke can cause damage to lungs, organs, muscles, swelling of the upper airways, organ failure, bleeding disorders, permanent brain damage and even death if left untreated.

Dogs rely on panting to cool themselves down as it helps to lower their body temperature. Unfortunately, it is not as effective as sweeting, taking off layers of clothing (dogs coats are a little more attached than ours, even if your floors, clothes, and couches suggest differently), having a cold shower, ... Click here to read more....

Valentine’s Day can be fun for you, your sweetheart and your pets but there are some things you need to be aware of to ensure you and your pets have a safe Valentine’s Day! Let’s face it even if you are enjoying singledom this Valentine’s Day; the day will probably still involve chocolate, and that is something you can’t share with your dog.

Flowers can make a beautiful Valentines present for your loved one but some flowers and plants can be extremely harmful to your cat or dog so when choosing bouquets stay away from the following: Lilies, Tulips, Chrysanthemums, Primrose, Carnations, Daffodils, and Oleander. There are quite a few others, and you can find the full list on http://www.1stinflowers.com/articles/poisonous-plants-for-dogs.html . Depending on the type of flower or plant ingested reactions can range from a rash to diarrhoea and vomiting, to convulsions and even death. Even if you aren’t expecting ... Click here to read more....

At Paddington Pups we believe highly trained staff make for happier, safer dogs and that is what we are in this business to make. Pet first aid training and dog trainer training is just some of the expertise we want the Team at Paddington Pups to have. In December we engaged in fire safety training to ensure that our team knows what to do in the event of a fire emergency. Knowing where fire safety equipment is located, how to use extinguishers, high-pressure fire reel hoses and evacuation routes were all important parts of our training. We will be completely honest though it was a bit of fun getting to play withlearn how to use the fire extinguishers.

Several members of our team of Doggy Daycare Attendants attended Pet First Aid training with Toowong Family Vets during January. This training ensures our ... Click here to read more....

The Four Main Benefits of Using a Dog Harness

A collar or a harness? The debate has been ongoing for a long time. What’s your preference and what have

you chosen for your dog? If you’re still reluctant about the purchase of a harness you may want to explore the following list of advantages.

Reduced Pressure on the Neck

The harness usually “hugs” the chest of the dog. There’s no pulling on the neck which reduces the risk of possible trauma.

Pressure on the neck is a typical scenario in the case of a dog that pulls vigorously against the collar. This pressure could contribute to breathing difficulties and even anxiety. More anxiety contributes to more pulling, which leads to a vicious cycle.
Physical damage to the neck and the spine can occur rarely as a result of collar use but it’s still a risk to keep in mind. ... Click here to read more....

This time of year brings Christmas Carols and New Year’s Eve Celebrations that often include fireworks. Roughly one in five dogs have a phobia of fireworks, which means these dogs will become incredibly fearful. Frightened dogs are unpredictable creatures and can become aggressive at the slightest stimuli. The first and most important rule for dealing with a frightened canine companion is to be cautious. Just because you have known your dog for years and he or she has never done anything aggressive toward you before doesn’t mean he or she won’t lash out under stress.

One of the best things to do to prepare for these situations is to know your dog. How does he or she react to loud noises? Some dogs get as close to their owners as possible for protection, others may run off ... Click here to read more....

It is always hard to resist treating your beloved pet. You want to share your toast, your biscuit and your dinner with them plus give them a treat just because they deserve it. Human food certainly isn’t always the best for your pet. Last issue we covered some things not to feed your dog. Most people don’t even know that their pet is overweight because no one has ever told us how to measure a pet’s health and weight.

According to recent RSPCA studies, the number of obese pets is rising with 50% of Dogs and 40% of cats considered to be overweight. Being overweight can lead to some serious health issues such as

Celiac disease is gluten intolerance in animals. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. Dogs, like humans, can suffer from celiac disease. By consuming products containing gluten an abnormal immune response occurs which attacks the small intestine. If Celiac Disease is left untreated it often leads to malnutrition and severe damage to your pups digestive system.

There are several signs that can indicate that your dog may have Celiac Disease. It is important that you are aware of the signs as early diagnosis is the always the best way to control any disease.

These signs include:

Skin problems

Hair loss

Bumps or lesions (These lesions usually show up on the dog’s feet, head, neck, ears and stomach)

Itching, flaking dry skin

Secondary skin infections

Chronic ear infections

If your dog shows any signs of being a Celiac then you should consult you vet immediately.

You might have noticed the big craze at the moment over Himalayan salt and the amazing health benefits it has for us. From using it in food to drinking it in water and even using it as a deodorant stick or bath salts.

It really is amazing stuff! Lots of people don’t realize that it has just as good health benefits for our dogs.
Incase you aren’t aware here are some of the great benefits of pink Himalayan salt:
• Creates an electrolyte balance
• Increases hydration
• Regulates water content both inside and outside of cells
• Prevents muscle cramping
• Aids in proper metabolic functions
• Strengthens bones
• Lowers blood pressure
• Helps the intestines absorb nutrients
• Improves circulation
• Dissolves and eliminates sediment to remove toxins
Just remember that pink Himalayan salt is very different to table ... Click here to read more....

This is something we hear about all too often from our clients. Why is my dog’s urine burning our lawn and how do I stop it?

Sometimes it can be something as simple as changing their diet or placing some dog rocks in their dog water bowl.

Here are a few reasons why your dog’s urine might be burning the grass.

Alkaline urine pH, nitrogen load, and high solute concentration of the urine (dehydration).

Dogs that are on a cereal based diet (most kibbles) or a diet high in grains and fillers will have a fairly high pH. Because of this their urine will burn the grass when they pee on it. Dogs that are eating a natural RAW diet made up of soft consumable bones and meat will have a lower pH which is ideal for a carnivore and will dramatically reduce burns ... Click here to read more....

Over the many years of producing the Complete Meal and recommending bones I am still amazed at the number of dog and cat owners that are concerned about feeding bones.
Bones to cats and dogs are about as real as it gets. Bones are necessary, not only do they clean teeth, they provide nutritional value from calcium and cartilage, they create muscle work for the jaw, they help bulk the stool to assist with anal gland problems as well as assist with stimulation to calm the carnivorous animal while chewing. Dogs and cats have a jaw and set of teeth that are designed to rip, tear and crunch. I find nothing better than watching my dogs lie in the sun and enjoy their bone, the whole bone.